This toolkit is designed to support the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) goal to improve the quality of care provided in small, rural critical access hospitals (CAHs) by increasing quality data reporting and using data to drive QI activities. (Stratis Health, 2017)

This toolkit specifically addresses the MBQIP program domains for Patient Safety, Care Transitions, Outpatient and Patient Engagement. Funds to support this initiative are offered through the Texas Flex Grant through the Texas State Office of Rural Health. Critical Access Hospitals are required to participate in the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Program (MBQIP) to receive Flex Benefits.

The MBQIP measures are intended to improve the quality, safety and financial stability of participating organizations. This toolkit provides guidance to improve reporting into the state and national databases. By participating in these data resources, the entity is provided with benchmarking and quality data essential to improving the health of the populations they serve. Through timely receipt and acknowledgement of data, organizations can effectively identify and initiate improvement strategies, thereby enhancing the reliability of care and services.

Best practice plans and processes are provided to help organizations incorporate mechanisms to obtain concurrent information necessary to make rapid cycle changes to improve quality and safety.

It is important to stress that each facility work to determine the root cause of low performance. Awareness by staff and providers along with intentional efforts toward improvement is essential. Another key and often overlooked component of top performing facilities is full support by Senior Leadership. Evidence of senior leader support involves participation in daily huddles where patient safety and “quality misses” are at the forefront. Additional support must be evident through resources to facilitate quality work.

This document will outline tools and best practices to help you meet the requirements for safe and effective care. In addition to the resources listed here, please visit the Texas Hospital Association Foundation (THAF) website for additional tools, policies and guidelines to help you deliver, record and report safe and effective care.

Hospitals across the state are experiencing an influx of patients with flu; in some cases, going on “medical divert” to transfer patients to other facilities because they are at capacity. Flu season...

The Texas Hospital Association often publishes white papers on issues affecting Texas hospitals and the health care of Texans.

Texas Medicaid in Perspective: Texas Medicaid, operated in partnership with the federal government, serves primarily low-income pregnant women and children but also individuals with disabilities and older adults. Learn More

2017 Texas Hospitals’ Policy Priorities: Hospitals also are required by federal law to provide, at a minimum, a medical screening to anyone who seeks it and to provide stabilization and treatment services for an emergency medical condition, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Learn more

Hospital Financing Overview: This document is intended to provide a high-level overview of the hospital financing system in Texas and the challenges that exist – challenges that threaten hospitals’ continued ability to provide the highest quality care for all Texans. Learn More

1115 Medicaid Transformation Waiver: Learn how the Transformation Waiver is making health care in Texas more effective and efficient and why renewal is so important for Texas hospitals. Learn more

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The Texas Hospital Association would like to hear from both its members and from the public for whom Texan hospitals and health systems work to keep healthy.